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It looked as if there could be an upset in the making, but No. 1 Kahuku lived up to its top ranking, scoring 24 points in the second half to defeat Roosevelt 24-0 last night in an Oahu Interscholastic Association Red East meeting.

The rain that fell in intervals throughout the day at Roosevelt High School field continued throughout the game as both teams struggled to make any meaningful offensive gains in the first half.

The Red Raiders (5-1, 4-1 OIA Red East) didn't get on the board until 2:40 left in the third quarter, when running back Kamuela Alisa found a hole up the middle and ran it in for a 15-yard score. The PAT, which was from 35 yards out after an unsportsmanlike conduct call on Kahuku, sailed wide left. That left the door open for the Rough Riders (3-4, 1-4 OIA Red East).

But on the following drive, a high-risk play proved costly. On fourth down, the Rough Riders tried a fake punt, with Koloa Kahalewai-Crawford throwing for David Westman. The ball went off Westman's hand, giving the Red Raiders possession in Roosevelt's end.

Kahuku then relied on Alisa, who broke to the left sideline and eluded two defenders as he made his way into the end zone. The 25-yard run put Kahuku up 12-0.

"Had that (fake punt) been complete, it would have been a different story," Roosevelt coach Lester Parrilla said. "It's a game of momentum."

Kahuku capped the scoring late in the fourth when Suaesi Tuimaunei returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown.

Both teams said the wet and muddy conditions were difficult to overcome.

"I think it was real hard for us to adjust," Alisa said. "But then eventually our O-line got it, and we ended up taking a couple of them to the house."

Alisa ran for 90 yards on 14 carries.

The Rough Riders held Kahuku's high-powered offense in check in the first quarter simply by keeping it off the field.

"We knew we could play with them for a while," Parrilla said. "It was just a matter of how long."

After a 38-yard kickoff return by Shiloh Teo, the Red Raiders went for the immediate payoff, throwing a deep ball to the middle of the field. But the pass was picked off by Kory Wong-Kaeo, who fumbled the ball then recovered it at the 1-yard line.

From there, the Rough Rider offense battled its way up the field, helped by three Kahuku penalties. Kahalewai-Crawford ran for 30 yards on five carries in the drive, which took up most of the first quarter. But the Red Raider defense held, forcing Roosevelt to punt shortly after the Rough Riders crossed midfield.

And even after holding the Red Raiders without a first down, the Roosevelt defensive effort was wasted, as the Kahuku punt landed on the back of a Roosevelt player. The live ball was then recovered by Kahuku's Ira Casey, giving the Red Raiders the ball at the Rough Rider 43-yard line.

But again, the Red Raiders turned the ball over on the first play of the drive as Troy Quon recovered a Kahuku fumble.

"I give them a lot of credit," Kahuku coach Siuaki Livai said of the Rough Riders. "They played a great game. They slowed us down."

Kailua 26, Farrington 0

Nathan Alvarado threw a touchdown to Kenny Gibson and ran for another score as the Surfriders shut out the Governors.